Posted by Jeff Short on May 29, 2017 · Leave a Comment
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
– Proverbs 14:12
The word for
right means straight and level. It can also express moral uprightness. When taken with the contrasting phrase, it refers to an apparent good way to good ends. Obviously, the way seems good because the man will not listen to wisdom (Proverbs 12:15). The
end refers to the outcome or even the reward. The word for
death means death in a natural or penal sense. It can refer to the state of death or can symbolize ruin. Taken here as a symbol, death speaks to the complete ruin of the plans of the man on the way that seemed right. In other words, it is not that he might find a little disappointment but complete ruin. More bluntly, the word indicates the ultimate destination of fools who refuse wisdom but go in the way of folly (Proverbs 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:24).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
– Proverbs 13:10
The word for
contention means a quarrel or strife. The first phrase reveals how it comes by
pride, or stubborn arrogance. The proud bringer of strife is identified as a scorner (Proverbs 21:24). They will not receive counsel because they know best (Proverbs 12:15; 1:7). This is shown to be foolish by the contrast with
wisdom in the last phrase. Wisdom is frequently described as instruction or correction (Proverbs 1:2-3, 23; 3:11). Acquiring wisdom necessarily means listening to and receiving good counsel, instruction, and correction (Proverbs 19:20; 20:18; 25:8).
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better then he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
– Proverbs 12:9
This is one of the proverbs that deals with reality versus appearances.
Despised here refers to someone of mean standing in the community. They have humility of circumstances. The fact they have a
servant illustrates they have some means, though modest, through honest work and gain. To be
better means to be better off, or in a better state than another. In this case, the first is better than the one who boasts and promotes himself to be seen as wealthy, powerful, etc. when he is poor in reality. Jesus spoke of this sort of humility when he taught that we should let another honor us if honor is indeed due us rather than taking honor to ourselves (Luke 14:8-11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
– Proverbs 11:2
The word for
pride indicates a high arrogance, or hubris. It speaks of one who must have his own way, and Proverbs points out the end of that way is
shame, or disgrace, and elsewhere destruction (Proverbs 16:18; 18:12). The word for
lowly means humility and it is the way of
wisdom. Humility with wisdom is better than great riches (Proverbs 16:19). Humility always precedes any true promotion (Proverbs 15:33).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 8, 2016 · Leave a Comment
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
– Proverbs 8:13
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but also the middle and end of it. Such proper fear is never outgrown nor gotten past. True wisdom does not only avoid a bad way, but hates it as twice stated here.
Pride and
arrogancy speak of the puffing up of man that thinks himself wise. The
evil way is the road or path that is put for the way of life of the evil man. A
froward mouth is a speaking of perverse things and not wise things. This perverse speech displays the inner void of wisdom and inner corruption of the fool (Luke 6:45). In the previous verse, wisdom expressed her true companions and here her true antagonists.
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 11, 2016 · 1 Comment
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
– Proverbs 6:17
A proud, or high, look speaks of having high thoughts of oneself. The evil man winks with eyes (Proverbs 6:13), with thoughts of superiority. Pride is antithetical to wisdom-engendered humility and God hates it. A lying tongue is a deception or fraud. The evil man has a froward, or a perverse, mouth (Proverbs 6:12). Such speech is used to cheat and beguile people into sin and to exonerate oneself unjustly. Hands shedding innocent blood refers directly to murder, though there is guilt enough in complicity to murder indirectly. Jesus said that hating your brother without cause also violated the law commanding us to not kill (Matthew 5:21-22). The evil man also employs his fingers to the hurt of others (Proverbs 6:13).
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Posted by Jeff Short on January 26, 2016 · 1 Comment
Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
~ Psalm 119:53
The Psalmist is gripped by horror at this prospect. He shows here that he has no vengeful spirit. He does not take delight in the destruction of the wicked. He is terrified by it.
He experiences horror on two fronts. First, he is horrified at the forsaking of God’s law. It is extreme hubris to forsake the law of the all-wise, sovereign Creator of the universe. To forsake His law is to presume to know better, to sit in judgment on the law and the lawgiver. It is to make oneself higher than God.
Second, he is horrified at the prospect of the end of all those who forsake God’s law. Their end is only destruction no matter how oft they’ve been reproved. The judgment merited by transgressing God’s law is a fearsome prospect. His horror is all the more intense because he has tasted the good of things of the Lord and knows His service to be true and right.
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 2, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,
which do err from thy commandments.
~ Psalm 119:21
The proud are contrasted with the stranger in verse 20. The strangers, the pilgrims, are humbled in their circumstances. They are not home. They are searching, longing. The proud are not longing. It’s the nature of pride to think they have need of nothing. With no longing, they have no expectation of grace. Rather, they are rebuked and cursed. They do not find favor.
Peter wrote of the proud:
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
– 1 Peter 5:5-7
Pride is an abomination to God (Proverbs 6:17). He does not reward it with favor. It is a root of sin and a source of many evils in life. Pride leads to strife, discontentment, envy, bitterness, and hatred.
Pride leads to erring from God’s Word. Pride is the opposite of humility and isn’t teachable. Pride leads us to conclude our own thoughts and ways are right (Proverbs 12:15; 16:2; 21:2). Pride leads to self-righteousness and ultimately to Hell if not repented of (Luke 18:9-14). Heed the rebuke.
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Proverbs 14:12
Posted by Jeff Short on May 29, 2017 · Leave a Comment
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
The word for right means straight and level. It can also express moral uprightness. When taken with the contrasting phrase, it refers to an apparent good way to good ends. Obviously, the way seems good because the man will not listen to wisdom (Proverbs 12:15). The end refers to the outcome or even the reward. The word for death means death in a natural or penal sense. It can refer to the state of death or can symbolize ruin. Taken here as a symbol, death speaks to the complete ruin of the plans of the man on the way that seemed right. In other words, it is not that he might find a little disappointment but complete ruin. More bluntly, the word indicates the ultimate destination of fools who refuse wisdom but go in the way of folly (Proverbs 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:24).– Proverbs 14:12
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